Google.org backs CyberSafe Foundation’s Resilio Africa project to boost cybersecurity across four African countries

CyberSafe Foundation, with funding support from Google.org, is set to launch a major cybersecurity resilience initiative aimed at protecting critical institutions and millions of people across Sub-Saharan Africa.

The project, known as Resilio Africa, is a three-year programme designed to reduce the growing risk of cyberattacks targeting community institutions in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.

It will focus on strengthening the cyber resilience of 200 Critical Community Institutions, including public and nonprofit organisations that provide essential services.

According to details released by CyberSafe Foundation, the initiative seeks to protect more than two million people and secure over 15 million public records across the four countries.

The project is described as one of the most ambitious community-focused cybersecurity efforts on the continent.

“Access to secure digital systems is a cornerstone of inclusive growth,” said Haviva Kohl, Senior Program Manager at Google.org.

“Our support for CyberSafe Foundation’s CCI cybersecurity efforts reflect our shared commitment to empowering communities and protecting the institutions that serve them.”

She added that Resilio Africa will help ensure essential community organisations “can operate safely and confidently in an increasingly digital world.”

The launch comes amid rising cyber threats across Sub-Saharan Africa.

A brief by CyberSafe Foundation notes that critical community institutions are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, yet many lack the resources and capacity to defend themselves.

“These institutions collect, process, and store vast amounts of sensitive personal data, yet most lack the corresponding cybersecurity maturity,” the brief states.

Many operate outdated systems, have low awareness of digital threats, and often have no dedicated cybersecurity budgets.

The scale of the challenge is underscored by regional data. According to INTERPOL, Africa recorded a 23 per cent increase in ransomware attacks in 2023, with public and nonprofit institutions among the most affected.

Data from the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index shows that more than 60 per cent of African countries fall into the “low commitment” category for national cybersecurity readiness.

“As services become more digitized, this creates a dangerous gap that cybercriminals are actively exploiting,” the foundation warned, citing threats such as ransomware, phishing, data breaches, and DDoS attacks.

Country-specific figures highlight the urgency.

“In Kenya alone, over 114 CCI-targeted cyberattacks were recorded in the first eight months of 2024, followed by a 201% increase in cyber incidents by Q1 2025,” the statement said.

In Nigeria, key government and healthcare systems still rely on unencrypted communication protocols, while institutions in Ghana and South Africa face similar vulnerabilities.

Through Resilio Africa, CyberSafe Foundation will provide free technical tools, cybersecurity assessments, threat intelligence, and incident response frameworks.

The project will also deliver more than 10,000 hours of pro bono cyber consulting and train over 4,500 employees and decision-makers through tiered programmes.

“Africa’s digital transformation cannot succeed if our communities remain vulnerable,” said Confidence Staveley, Founder and Executive Director of CyberSafe Foundation.

“With Google.org’s support, we are scaling a proven model of capacity-building that will help critical institutions become resilient, safeguard the people they serve, and preserve trust in digital public systems.”

Applications for eligible institutions are now open through the Resilio Africa website, as the project prepares to roll out across the four countries.